STAFF in a Tavistock shop are this week celebrating after learning they have scooped a national award. House of Cards has just won the Thorntons ?best newcomer? award, only 12 months after adapting its store to accommodate the company?s franchise. The judges chose the winner after looking at presentation, sales and the general arrangement of the shop ? and they were pleased with what they saw. The awards are held annually for best newcomer and for best franchise, which the House of Cards hopes to win next year. House of Cards? Lorraine Bell, the company?s secretary, said: ?We are really chuffed with the franchise and to win this is the icing on the cake.? On the first day of opening their newly refurbished store they managed to reach their daily quota by lunchtime. Staff at the shop said they felt success would be on the cards. ?We knew we had done the right thing,? said Lorraine. Roy Lavers, who has been running the business for more than 13 years, said: ?It?s so hard for independent stores to survive, the Tavistock public are so loyal and they are so much into their independent shops.? There are 70 Thorntons franchises set up around the country and it was the company who approached House of Cards with a view to setting up in Tavistock. To help them celebrate winning Thorntons ?best newcomer? award, Ray and his staff are inviting customers to the shop on Saturday October 8, when they will be offered free chocolates and a glass of wine.